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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Revelation 17:14–18. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter.
I.Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers.
The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But,
II.Here is a victory gained by the Lamb:
The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory.
III.Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken,
1.From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control.
2.From the character of his followers: They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV.The victory is justly aggrandized.
1.By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, Rev 17:15, Rev 17:18.
2.By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for,
(1.)It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And,
(2.)It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God's providence in her destruction.
Historical interpretation
Seven Centuries of Reception
7 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
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Christ, who teaches and shows that the people of the Gentiles were coming into that place that the Jews had lost and that we were arriving afterward through the merit of faith, made wine from water, that is, he showed that the people of the Gentiles rather would resort together and come to the nuptials of Christ and of his church when the Jews were leaving. For the divine Scripture declares in the Apocalypse that the waters signify the peoples, saying, “The waters that you saw on which that harlot sits are peoples and crowds and nations of the heathen and tongues.” We perceive that this is actually also contained in the sacrament of the chalice. For because Christ, who bore our sins, also bore us all, we see that people are signified in the water, but in the wine the blood of Christ is shown. But when water is mixed with wine in the chalice, the people are united to Christ, and the multitude of the believers is bound and joined to him in whom they believe. This association and mingling of water and wine are so mixed in the chalice of the Lord that the mixture cannot mutually be separated. Whence nothing can separate the church, that is, the multitude established faithfully and firmly in the church, persevering in that which it has believed, from Christ as long as it clings and remains in undivided love. But thus, in the consecrating of the chalice of the Lord, water alone cannot be offered, nor can wine alone. For if anyone offers wine alone, the blood of Christ begins to be without us. If, in truth, the water is alone, the people begin to be without Christ. But when both are mixed and, in the union, are joined to each other and mingled together, then the spiritual and heavenly sacrament is completed.
"And the beast which thou sawest is of the seven." Since before those kings Nero reigned.
"And he is the eighth." He says only when this beast shall come, reckon it the eighth place, since in that is the completion. He added:-
"And shall go into perdition." For that ten kings received royal power when he shall move from the east, he says. He shall be sent from the city of Rome with his armies. And Daniel sets forth the ten horns and the ten diadems. And that these are eradicated from the former ones,-that is, that three of the principal leaders are killed by Antichrist: that the other seven give him honour and wisdom and power, of whom he says:-
"These shall hate the whore, to wit, the city, and shall burn her flesh with fire." Now that one of the heads was, as it were, slain to death, and that the stroke of his death was directed, he speaks of Nero. For it is plain that when the cavalry sent by the senate was pursuing him, he himself cut his throat. Him therefore, when raised up, God will send as a worthy king, but worthy in such a way as the Jews merited. And since he is to have another name, He shall also appoint another name, that so the Jews may receive him as if he were the Christ. Says Daniel: "He shall not know the lust of women, although before he was most impure, and he shall know no God of his fathers: for he will not be able to seduce the people of the circumcision, unless he is a judge of the law." Finally, also, he will recall the saints, not to the worship of idols, but to undertake circumcision, and, if he is able, to seduce any; for he shall so conduct himself as to be called Christ by them. But that he rises again from hell, we have said above in the word of Isaiah: "Water shall nourish him, and hell hath increased him; "who, however, must come with name unchanged, and doings unchanged, as says the Spirit.
The harlot is the life of luxury that is lived by plunder and pleasures. It says that they would hate the harlot, for dissolute persons who are also proud, lustful and arrogant not only persecute the saints, but they also hold themselves in hatred. And in another way do those hate themselves in whom the word of Scripture is fulfilled, “Those who love iniquity hate their own soul.” “And they will make her desolate and naked.” Through the wrath of God and his just judgment by which they are abandoned by him, they themselves will make the world a desert, since they have been given over to it and use it unrighteously. “And they will devour her flesh.” This is so, because as the apostle says, “They will bite and eat one another.”
What the apostle said, “God gave them up to a base mind to do what they ought not,” that is also now said. For God has placed in their hearts to do that which is pleasing to him. Righteousness is pleasing to God, through which we know that retribution is visited upon the impious. Moreover, [it is according to God’s will] that they who have given their kingdom to the beast pay their just penalties with the beast, until the words of God be fulfilled, which, to be sure, consist of justice and mercy. For “all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.”
This woman is the very one who was given over to the corruptions of flesh and blood and who had prospered through the power of the earthly kingdom. And since she consists of those very kings over whom she is said to reign according to her habit, [the text] has divided the very same one into parts, as though separating a genus into its species, so that the words of the Lord will be fulfilled in the woman, in the city, in the kings, on the kings and on [the woman], when he redeems his own by his mercy and by his justice condemns the insolent.
Since the angel explained these things clearly, a more detailed explanation of them is superfluous. It is remarkable to me how the devil is both enemy and avenger. For he will work through the ten horns, who are guided by him, to oppose that lover of good and virtue, Christ our God, and to lay waste that populous city that has abandoned the divine laws and become servant to his pleasures, and like a bloodthirsty beast they will glut themselves on its blood. He will regard its conflagration as an occasion for rejoicing and the mutilation of human flesh as proper food, and he who always rejoices in duplicity will grant harmony to those ten apostate horns. That which continues makes very clear that the woman who was seen is the great city that exercises power over the kings of the earth, and the sufferings of that power that is ruling during those times is prophesied. From these trials the beneficent God will redeem us and enlist us in the heavenly city, namely, in the Jerusalem above. In this city “he will be everything to everyone,” as the apostle says, “when he shall destroy every rule,” clearly every apostate rule, “and every authority and power.” In addition, he will recline with and serve those who have served him here faithfully and wisely, that is, he will give them the enjoyment of the eternal blessings that have been “prepared from the foundation of the world.” Of this bliss may also we be found worthy in Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of our souls, with whom be glory and power to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
He says "the waters" on which "the prostitute sits are peoples and nations", on which the city, that is, holds the kingdom.
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Summary
Revelation 17:15 provides a crucial divine interpretation of one of the book's most enigmatic symbols: the "waters" upon which the "great whore" is seated. An angel explains to John that these waters represent "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," unequivocally clarifying that the influence and dominion of the harlot, often understood as a corrupt spiritual or political power, is not confined to a single locality but extends globally, encompassing a vast and diverse human population across the earth.
Context
Literary Context
Revelation 17 opens with one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls inviting John to witness the judgment of the "great whore that sitteth upon many waters" Revelation 17:1. This chapter is a pivotal interlude, providing a detailed exposition of "Babylon the Great," a symbolic entity introduced earlier and whose fall is extensively prophesied in subsequent chapters. Verse 15 serves as a direct, authoritative clarification from the angelic guide, demystifying the "many waters" symbol and setting the stage for understanding the global reach and ultimate demise of this oppressive power. It is a key interpretive moment, ensuring that the reader grasps the universal scope of the harlot's influence before her judgment is fully detailed.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Book of Revelation was written during a period of intense persecution of Christians, likely under the Roman Emperor Domitian. The imagery of a "whore" sitting on "many waters" would have resonated with contemporary audiences familiar with the city of Rome, which was built on seven hills and often depicted as a powerful, dominant empire. Furthermore, the Old Testament frequently uses the metaphor of a harlot to describe nations or cities that have committed spiritual idolatry or political treachery against God (e.g., Isaiah 23:15-17). The "waters" in ancient Near Eastern apocalyptic literature and prophecy often symbolized chaotic forces, nations, or large populations (e.g., Psalm 18:16 or Jeremiah 51:13). Thus, the angel's interpretation in Revelation 17:15 aligns with established biblical symbolism, making the global nature of the "whore's" power clear to its original audience.
Key Themes
This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes in Revelation. Firstly, it underscores the global influence and dominion of the anti-God forces, emphasizing that the "whore's" reach extends beyond any single nation or empire to encompass all humanity. This theme is echoed elsewhere, such as in the beast's authority over "every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation" (Revelation 13:7). Secondly, it highlights the importance of divine interpretation within apocalyptic literature. Revelation is rich in symbolism, and the angel's direct explanation here is a crucial example of God providing clarity to His prophetic visions, ensuring His message is understood. Finally, the verse reinforces the theme of the pervasive nature of deception and spiritual corruption, illustrating how widely such systems can spread and ensnare diverse populations, requiring believers to be vigilant and discerning in a world subject to such influences.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
Literally meaning "water," this term is used here symbolically. In biblical prophecy, "waters" often represent peoples, nations, or even chaos and destructive forces. The angel's interpretation in this verse confirms its symbolic meaning as a vast collection of humanity, providing the foundation and support for the harlot's power.
This word refers to a "harlot" or "strumpet." Figuratively, it is used to denote an "idolater" or one who is spiritually unfaithful. In Revelation, "the great whore" symbolizes a system or entity that has committed spiritual adultery against God, often associated with idolatry, economic exploitation, and persecution of God's people, embodying profound moral and spiritual corruption.
While literally meaning "tongue," this term by implication refers to a "language." Its inclusion in the list "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" serves to emphasize the extreme diversity and global reach of the populations under the influence of the "whore," signifying that no linguistic group is exempt from her pervasive sway.
Verse Breakdown
"And he saith unto me"
This phrase indicates the continuation of the angelic explanation to John, emphasizing that the following interpretation is divinely revealed and authoritative, not John's own deduction.
"The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth"
This refers back to the initial vision presented in Revelation 17:1, explicitly identifying the symbolic element that is about to be explained. The "waters" are the foundation or source of the "whore's" power and influence.
"are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues"
This is the direct, unambiguous interpretation of the symbol. The four terms are cumulative, signifying a comprehensive, universal scope. "Peoples" (laos) refers to distinct ethnic or national groups; "multitudes" (ochlos) denotes large, undifferentiated crowds or masses; "nations" (ethnos) refers to all the gentile nations of the world, often implying pagan or non-Jewish peoples; and "tongues" (glossa) signifies linguistic diversity. Together, they powerfully convey that the "whore's" dominion is global, extending over every segment of humanity.
Literary Devices
Revelation 17:15 primarily employs Symbolism, where the "waters" are not literal bodies of water but represent vast human populations. This is immediately followed by Explication or Interpretation, a crucial device in apocalyptic literature where a divine messenger explicitly reveals the meaning of a symbol, ensuring the audience's understanding. The angel's direct statement, "The waters... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," is a clear instance of this. The use of four distinct but overlapping terms—"peoples," "multitudes," "nations," and "tongues"—is a form of Merism or Comprehensive Listing, a rhetorical device where a totality is expressed by listing its constituent parts, thereby emphasizing the universal and all-encompassing nature of the "whore's" influence. The Metaphor of the "whore" itself, representing a corrupt system, is foundational to the chapter, and the interpretation of the waters further clarifies the scope of this metaphorical entity.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Revelation 17:15 profoundly impacts our understanding of the nature of spiritual conflict and God's sovereignty. The angel's direct interpretation of the "waters" as "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" reveals that the power and influence of "Babylon the Great" are not merely localized or confined to a specific historical empire, but are global and pervasive, drawing strength from the vastness of humanity. This highlights the universal scope of spiritual deception and rebellion against God, emphasizing that corrupt systems can arise and exert influence across all cultures and societies. Yet, it also implicitly underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God, who alone can unveil such mysteries and who will ultimately judge these global forces, demonstrating His dominion over all "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues."
Reflection and Application
Revelation 17:15 calls believers to a profound awareness of the spiritual realities at play in the world. Understanding that the "waters" represent "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" means that the forces of spiritual corruption and opposition to God are not limited to a single political regime or a specific historical period, but are deeply embedded within the fabric of global human society. This necessitates spiritual discernment, urging us to recognize subtle and overt forms of idolatry, materialism, and anti-God ideologies that permeate cultures worldwide. It reinforces the urgency of the Great Commission, as the very "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" from which the "whore" draws her power are also the very ones to whom the Gospel must be proclaimed. Ultimately, this verse serves as a powerful reminder that while deception is global, God's truth and His ultimate victory are even more expansive, providing hope and a call to faithful witness amidst a world often ensnared by spiritual darkness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the angel explicitly interpreting the symbol of the waters?
The explicit interpretation by the angel in Revelation 17:15 is highly significant because it provides a direct, divine key to understanding a complex prophetic symbol. Apocalyptic literature, like Revelation, is rich in symbolic imagery that can be difficult to interpret without guidance. By having an angel clarify that the "waters" are "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues," God ensures that the reader grasps the global and universal nature of the "whore's" influence, leaving no room for misinterpretation regarding the scope of this spiritual enemy. This interpretive act underscores God's desire for His people to understand His prophetic message and the spiritual realities it describes.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Revelation 17:15 describes the global reach of a corrupt, anti-God system, it simultaneously highlights the ultimate and contrasting dominion of Christ. The "waters" representing "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" are the very populations over whom the "whore" seeks to exert her influence. Yet, it is precisely these diverse groups that Christ came to redeem and gather into His kingdom. The Great Commission, given by Jesus Himself, commands His followers to "go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). This universal mission directly counters the global deception of the "whore." Furthermore, the ultimate vision of heaven in Revelation depicts the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, as worthy to receive worship from "every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9). Thus, while the "whore" draws her power from the masses, Christ's victory ensures that these very "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues" will ultimately bow the knee to Him, fulfilling His sovereign reign over all creation (Philippians 2:10-11).